The state of emergency had been in place for Brunswick County since Friday, Aug. 26. N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue declared a state of emergency for all the coastal counties, including Brunswick County, late Wednesday, Aug. 24.

On Saturday morning as first light dawned on Brunswick County, the winds of Hurricane Irene continued to blow.

By noon power lines and trees continued to fall across the county. Stoplights in Shallotte lost power and emergency crews vigorously worked to restore power and ensure safety. On the beaches, the sand blew in sheets.

But the good news is the visable damage to property on the islands is minimal. A few houses on each of southern Brunswick’s islands beaches sustained damage to siding, screens, windows and shutters.

Mayor Alan Holden issued a mandatory evacuation for Holden Beach. Everyone is to be off the island by 6 p.m. Friday. The bridge is subject to being closed sooner if winds are sustained at 45 mph or higher.